The Commandant's Shadow

The Commandant's Shadow is a feature-length documentary I made over four years, which explores transgenerational trauma and the lasting effect events long  past can have upon people who lived through them and their descendants. I followed Hans Jürgen, the son of Auschwitz Commandant Rudolf Höss and his son Kai on a journey to explore their family history, while also filming with Auschwitz survivor Anita Lasker-Wallfisch and her daughter Maya, who sets out to reclaim the ‘stolen life’ she feels she lost out on and pay homage to her murdered family.

 

After humble beginnings - I was essentially a one woman band - the film eventually found financing, thanks to Snowstorm Productions, Creators Inc, New Mandate Films and others; it was finished and acquired by HBO and Warner Bros Pictures. It is being distributed theatrically from 29th May 2024.